November 2025 | Released January 08, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.1 percent in South Dakota.

• In November, payroll jobs rose in 35 states and fell in 15. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.3 percent in Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, and Mississippi. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in New Hampshire.

New Jersey

Employment snapshot

• In November, New Jersey lost 1,700 net payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Jersey lost 3,600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, New Jersey added 20,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.8 percentage points from 4.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November. New Jersey is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In November, New Jersey’s private sector lost 1,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 18,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Jersey lost 4,300 net private payroll jobs.

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New Jersey

Payroll employment

• New Jersey lost 1,700 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, New Jersey lost 3,600 jobs. New Jersey nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November. New Jersey is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• New Jersey lost 1,800 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, New Jersey lost 4,300 jobs. New Jersey private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 69,000 jobs in November, or 0.1 percent. New Jersey is tied for 30th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From October 2025 to November 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+4,900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-3,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (-2,800).

From November 2024 to November 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+28,200) and Professional and Business Services (+12,200).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-12,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,200).

New Jersey

Labor force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• New Jersey ranks 22nd in the nation.